The $1.6 billion Santa Barbara County (Calif.) Employees Retirement System will issue RFPs today for consultants to assist with searches for private equity and real estate managers to handle $80 million each.

Oscar Peters, retirement administrator, said the plan will issue two separate RFPs for consultants. Firms that specialize in both areas are required to fill out both proposals. The RFP will be available on the plan’s Web site (www.countyofsb.org/sbcers) and proposals are due in early April.

Peters said he expects to make a hire or hires by the end June. Specifics on the manager searches will be ironed out after the consultant hires, he said. The plan’s general consultant, Pension Consulting Alliance, has been invited to bid.

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